Spring structure.



W. R. SMITH.

SPRING STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.1,1912.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

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SPRING STRUCTURE. APPLIOATION FILED rEB.1,1912.

I INVENTOR HE NORRIS PETERS CO. PHOTO-LITHQ, WASHING TON. D. C.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

WATSON B. SMITH, 0F JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

SPRING STRUCTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

Application filed February 1, 1912. Serial No. 674,632.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WATSON B. SMITH, citizenof the United States, residing at Jackson, in the county of Jackson andState of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSpring Structures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to spring structures for sleeping car berths andhas particular reference to upper berths.

One object is to provide a spring structure having the upperconvolutions of its springs connected by stays with which and thesprings suitable links interlace to provide for an effective connectionbetween the springs and to insure them being maintained in verticalposition and in proper spaced relation to one another.

Another object resides in the provision of a spring structure embodyingupper and lower frames, one of the frames extending beyond the other atone side and having springs arranged between the frames, with thesprings at the sides of the structure preferably of heavier gage wirethan the inner springs and with the springs at their top interlacedtogether by means of stays and links whereby there is provided asubstantial, durable and efficient structure which will permit of easyriding.

A still further object is to provide a spring structure embodying aframe with springs in the frame and connected together to maintain themin vertical position and in proper relation to one another, togetherwith means disposed on top of the springs to properly supportupholstering material on the springs.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination of parts hereinafter more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out inthe claim hereto appended; it being understood that various changes inthe form, proportion, size and minor details of construction may beresorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of theadvantages of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view, parts being broken away.Fig. 2 is an end view. Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view; and Fig.4: is a horizontal sectional view through an upper portion of twosprings illustrating the underside of the caps which fit on top of thesprings.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, thereference character 10 indicates a base frame preferably formed of angleiron and 11 an upper frame or border wire which at one side preferablyextends beyond the adjacent side of the base frame so as to widen thespring structure as much as possible and to permit it to go as far aspossible against the side of the sleeping car (not shown).

Secured in any suitable manner to the base frame are transverselydisposed spring supports 12 which are preferably arched downwardly, asshown, and which are connected in any suitable manner to longitudinallyextending strengthening bands 13 whose ends are directed upwardly, asshown at 14 and secured by rivets or in any other suitable manner to theends of the base frame.

The transverse spring supports 12 are provided with fingers 15 which arepreferably struck out of the metal of the supports and by means of whichthe lower convolutions of the inner springs are secured. The end springsupports 12 may or may not be provided with these spring connectingfingers, but as shown, the outer springs at the ends of the structuremay be secured by means of rivets 16, in which manner the outer springsat the sides are secured to the ends of the spring supports and to theside bars of the base frame, as indicated at 17.

Occupants of berths, particularly upper berths, frequently sit on oneside of the berth to remove or put on clothes. It is therefore preferredto have the outer springs at the sides of much heavier gage wire thanthe innermost springs, although the innermost springs may be of variousgages.

Connecting the upper convolutions of the springs will be seen aplurality of stays a, each composed of connected links 18 with each linkhaving a coil or eye at each end and each provided with an outwardlaterally directed V-shaped projecting portion 19. The bodies of thesestays engage the tops of the upper convolutions of the springs with theV-shaped projecting portions directed outwardly beneath the upperconvolutions. The V-shaped projecting portions of links of oppositestays project toward each other and are connected by short stays 20, theends of the short stays 20 passing beneath the V-shaped portions andupwardly around and over the upper convolutions of of the structure withopposite series of' stays connected by the short links 20 to render thelong stays a rigid and also to aid the long stays in maintaining thesprings rig idly in upright position. These short links 20 pass betweenthe upper convolutions and the V-shaped portions of the links of thestays a and thereby interlace therewith and are wedged therebetween.

The border springs at the side where the upper frame or border wire 11projects beyond the base frame have connected to them U-shaped stays 21by means of suitable clips 22 While the upper convolutions of theseparticular border springs at their outer sides are connected by asuitable short link 23 whose outer end embraces both the U-shapedstaysand the border wire.

Tomaintainupholstering material at the top-of, the structure and toprevent it from falling in between the springs, I preferably dispose ontop of. all of the springs a suitablecap 24,, each having a marginalflange 25Land each also having tongues 26 struck up therefromandadaptedtoembrace the upperconvolutions of the springs to secure thecaps firmly on the springs, with the p01:-

G'opies-orthispatent may be obtained for five. centseachibyeddressingthe Commissioners! Patents,-

tions of said stays engaging the springs disposed between the caps andtheir fingers. The caps also prevent tearing of bedclothes orupholstering by any roughness due to the springs and their connections.

What is claimed is In a spring structure, a frame, helical springsmounted on said frame and extending thereabove, caps resting upon theupper convolutions of said springs, and having marginal, flangesembracing said convolutions, links ha ing portions thereof disposedwithin the cap for interlocking engagement with the upper convolutionsof the springs and for engagement with the marginal flanges of the capsand fingers struck downwardly from the caps and engaging the upperconvolutions of the springs, and resting upon the links for holding-themin engagement with the flanges of the caps, whereby said links willbeheld ri idrelative to the caps and springs.

lntestimony whereof I aflix my signature inpresence of two witnesses.

WATSON B. SMITH.

Witnesses E'IH-BL, PHEL'AN, JEANNETTEiP'. WENGER;

washington n C.

